The vibrant spirit of Colombian artist Ana Mercedes Hoyos (born Bogotá, 1942) takes center stage at the Huxley-Parlour gallery as it proudly presents the first-ever solo exhibition of her work in the United Kingdom. Running from December 1, 2023, to January 13, 2024, “Los Fragmentos” offers a mesmerizing journey through twelve captivating canvases, created by Hoyos between 1988 and 2014, each a testament to the artist’s profound exploration of the still-life genre.
Hoyos, a luminary of Colombia’s artistic scene, emerged alongside visionaries like Luis Caballero, Beatriz González, and Bernardo Salcedo in the tumultuous 1960s. Inspired by movements such as Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art, the Colombian avant-garde sought to reshape their country’s plastic arts, infusing these Western influences with the rich tapestry of Colombian history and culture.
The heart of “Los Fragmentos” lies in Hoyos’ meticulous still-life compositions. Drawing from the graphic allure of Pop Art and the fractured perspectives of Cubism, her canvases re-examine the Baroque traditions of Francisco de Zurbarán and Caravaggio. Unlike traditional Western still-lifes, laden with allegory, Hoyos confronts history head-on, rooting her works in the geography and local culture of Colombia.
In the 1980s, Hoyos turned her gaze to the still-life genre, finding inspiration in the practices and customs of the coastal village of San Basilio de Palanque. This refuge for freed and escaped slaves became a wellspring of influence for Hoyos, particularly the women vendors who graced its beaches with bowls brimming with papayas, watermelons, and pineapples. The resulting works, such as “Untitled, 2004,” capture the essence of the village, with the San Basilio coastline forming a backdrop to a metal bowl teeming with mixed fruit.
Hoyos coined the term ‘naturaleza viva,’ a play on the Spanish term for still-life (‘naturaleza muerta’), to describe her works. Far from frozen moments, her paintings pulse with movement and action – fruits sliced, knives poised for another cut. Fragmented yet vibrant, Hoyos’ art radiates vitality, offering a vivid portrayal of the cultures and people it depicts.
“Los Fragmentos” stands as a testament to Hoyos’ enduring innovation and influence as one of Colombia’s foremost artists. Her reinvention of the still-life genre speaks volumes about her commitment to pushing artistic boundaries.
Ana Mercedes Hoyos, born in 1942 – and until passing in 2014 – garnered international acclaim, receiving awards such as the National Artist’s Salon in Bogotá for her Ventanas series. Growing up among respectability; her parents, whisked her to New York, Paris, Barcelona. She attended Marymount School in Bogotá, a private all-girls academy taught by New York-based nuns. Her family never dreamed she would be an artist. Affluent and cultured mid-century Colombians did not pursue art, nor live a self- professed “bohemian” life. But Hoyos broke the mold.
She became an artist in her own right, although she always considered herself primarily a “constructor”- perhaps a consequence of being surrounded by architects her whole life. She was married to the famous architect Jacques Mosseri.
With over 50 solo exhibitions worldwide and works housed in prestigious collections like the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and the Museum of Modern Art, Mexico City, Hoyos’ impact transcends borders.
As a prelude to a major retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art of Bogotá (MAMBO) in late 2024, “Los Fragmentos” invites art enthusiasts to explore the rich cultural mosaic painted by Ana Mercedes Hoyos.
If in London, don’t miss this exhibition at Huxley-Parlor from December 1, 2023 – January 13, 2024
HUXLEY-PARLOUR, 3–5 Swallow Street, London W1B 4DE
Monday to Friday, 10:00 am – 5:30 pm; Saturdays, 1:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Read out interview with Ana Mercedes Hoyos, from April, 2014:
https://thecitypaperbogota.com/culture/hoyos-beyond-bowls-of-fruit/
